Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-03

part OF Roman triumph Our own Cen
eral Grant was not fully appreciated and
honored until his feet pressed the soil of
Old England, and God bless the grand old
nation for her reminder to us. From there
came my ancestors who settled in the his
toric town of old Concord, Massachusetts,
in 1885, and where, at later period-on
the memorable April 19th-another should
cred his musket in defense of American
liberty. And SO i will say with others of
my countrymen before me, England,
with all thy faults, / love the STILL"
Aside from downright crimipality. per
haps the ages darkest blot of to-day is in
gratitude, which is oftentimes the out
growth of q too common trait among the
masses-a careless lack of appreciation
After Senator Stanford had for months
perhaps years-at heavy direct expense,
been feeding tramps who preferred to beg
rather than work at fair wages, necessitating
the employment of a number of China
men the past year on his Vina ranch, the
" Anti-Coolie League" or boycotters, of
Red Bluff, Cal, with an unwarrantable as
sumption, wrote TO him a request that he
discharge. the Cinnamon In his employ. In
his reply-which has been made public
appears the following which proves that
in deeds, as well as in words, he is not only
q friend to the worthy laborer, but also the
the poor generally, even if not so deserv-
ing. He writes:
Independently OF my position as pub
lie man, a request of any considerable
number of my fellow citizens would have
my best attention, though your resolutions
are directed more particularly to affairs
personal 10 myself; yet am aware that
you reflect the sentiments of very large
portion CT the people of our State in re-
gard to the employment of Chinese. Under
the treaties existing between our Govern
ment and that of China, the Chinaman is
entitled to the same Just treatment, while
in our country. as any other foreigner or as
any citizen. Whether white men shall be
preferred to him in employment is ques-
ton of humanitarianism and of private
interest.
" Regarding that, have the RICH to dis
pose of my own property and my own
means as suits me best, so long as l obey
the laws, if my humanitarianism impels
me, or my interests incline me TO employ
Chinese labor, hold that l have perfect
political right to do SO, it being matter of
my own conscience and its dictates NV
race prejudice, however, inclines me to my
own people, and | am DESTROYS of giving
them, on all suitable occasions, the prefer
ence. | have, therefore, in harmony with
my own inclinations, strengthened by your
request given instructions to my agent to
direct that the preference for white labor
be very carefully exerted.
The employment of Chinese labor
among the farmers has been, | think,
fairly a necessity, and is likely to continue
so, because good laborers can very soon, in
the vast unoccupied resources of our State,
find employment in something that offers
a better reward than common farm labor
Consequently good white labor is difficult
to be had. | believe the sentiment of the
people of California is very hostile to more
Chinese coming INTO our country; also
that most of our people sincerely wish the
Chinese now in the country were out of it :;
and in obedience to that will, and in har-
mony with my own judgment, shall do
here in my public duty, whatever l can to
restrict Chinese immigration. The unem-
ployed i'll California are numerous, but
do not think they are unemployed because
of the Chinese, or anything other than
their own improvident nature. l have fed
tramps at direct expense of over 800 a
month during the past season, on one
farm. although there was never day dur
ing that time that we were not short hand
ed of good men and wanted them.
in conclusion, let me say TO you in gen.
eral terms, that the theory of Govern
ment is founded upon the inalienable
rights of man, which the poor, of all
others, are most interested in maintaining,
and is in strong contrast to the paternal or
monarchial theory of Government. The
Government is founded upon the inalien-
able rights of man, and to secure him
makes these great principles fundamental.
Laws give, and the Inaiorities administer
So no man can have lien upon another,
and determine what he shall do with his
life, liberty and rightful possessions.
Whether the owner of property shall give
to those in distress or not is a question en-
tirely for him to determine, settle with his
own conscience and with his God, to what
extent the products of his labor, his care,
/ his thrift, industry and economy shall be
given to the unfortunate or idle, thriftless
and improvident. Without the observance
of the rights of property, of course all in
ducemeuts for thrift, frugality and industry
would be wanting. The earth yields
beautifully to labor for all of the necessi-
ties of the human kind, and with the in
telligent direction and application of labor
will, believe, secure, barring the accidents
of life, comfort to all. My remedy for the
evil the poor suffer.is temperance, indus
try, economy and intelligence. l trust that
am not unduly egotistical in believing that
my sympathies in the elfare of my kind are
as strong as those ofmost men, particularly
for the poor, and have strong faith that
| the time will come when the comforts of
life, at least, will be common belongings of
the poorer people of our country. The
wealth of individuals makes UP the COM
! monwealth. The most interesting cues
ton in regard to it is, not who owns, but
what use is made of it? Wealth, actively
and wisely in use, gives employment and
spreads prosperity. The individual pros
perity is the prosperity of the whole, and
the prosperity OF the whole results in the
prosperity OF the individual
While many of us, under similar circum-
stances would have penned brief, decided
reply to their meddlesome interference or
treated such an impairment request with
silent contempt he takes a more liberal
view of the situation, and in the usual
calm, sound sense which ever characterizes
his words and acts, gives them his careful
and respectful consideration. Every word
of his reply ought to be printed in letters
of gold, and be read and needed not only
by the doubtless well-meaning men to
whom they were addressed, but by every
individual within our borders who has or
should have the combined welfare of our
| workingmen, our capitalists and our Gov
! eminent at heart. Such requests, doubtless
| well-meant, are in bad taste, and more par
ticularly so under present circumstances,
when he is engaged in preparing plans to
build at his own private expense, at the
| probable cost of millions, an institution of
! learning on more grand scale, perhaps,
than America has yet known. The uni
yersity will be located in this State, and
named after his late lamented and only son,
Leland Stanford, Jr., who died while on a
European tour with his parents few wears
since, and when completed will, l am in
! formed, be decided to the State or public as
a free gift, thereby making our children
| his heirs, to receive practical benefits there
! from of more real value to them than gold.
Perhaps he never uttered or penned more
appropriate and truthful sentiment than
The most interesting question in regard
| to it (weslth) is not who owns but what
use is made of it." 1t is pertinent to the
! times, and should be held in remembrance.
| Now, as the time is not distant when
nominations will again be made for the
Presidency, will say that if the delegates
TO the Republican National Convention
will have sufficient wisdom and foresight
to redeem the party from its present ma
tional defeat, they will nominate the best